Trail Riding: A Complete Guide (Howell Equestrian Library) [Paperback]

Audrey Pavia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 19, 2005 | Series: Howell Equestrian Library

Experience the sheer joy of being one with your horse and one with nature.

When you're riding the trails with your horse, you enjoy a refreshing feeling of freedom, the exhilaration of exploration, and an invigorating escape from the demands of the day. You're in control--as long as you can control the 1,000-pound creature you're riding. Trail Riding: A Complete Guide takes you from the basics to more advanced trail riding skills with information on:
* How to choose a horse, including basics on conformation
* Finding the best trail-riding lessons, tack, and equipment
* Feeding, care, grooming, health care, and stable management
* Conditioning--for the horse and yourself
* Trailering to trails
* Advanced trail riding, including information on camping with your horse, how competitive trail riding is judged, and racing on the trail
* Tips on how to find the best trails, both locally and around the country


This book helps you develop the knowledge and skills that will give you a leg up every time you climb in the saddle. You and your horse will become the perfect pair for relaxing yet energizing adventures off the beaten path.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Experience the sheer joy of being one with your horse and one with nature.

When you're riding the trails with your horse, you enjoy a refreshing feeling of freedom, the exhilaration of exploration, and an invigorating escape from the demands of the day. You're in control—as long as you can control the 1,000-pound creature you're riding. Trail Riding: A Complete Guide takes you from the basics to more advanced trail riding skills with information on:

• How to choose a horse, including basics on conformation
• Finding the best trail-riding lessons, tack, and equipment
• Feeding, care, grooming, health care, and stable management
• Conditioning—for the horse and yourself
• Trailering to trails
• Advanced trail riding, including information on camping with your horse, how competitive trail riding is judged, and racing on the trail
• Tips on how to find the best trails, both locally and around the country

This book helps you develop the knowledge and skills that will give you a leg up every time you climb in the saddle. You and your horse will become the perfect pair for relaxing yet energizing adventures off the beaten path.

About the Author

Audrey Pavia is a former editor of Horse Illustrated magazine and an award-winning freelance writer specializing in equine subjects. She has written hundreds of magazine articles on various equine topics and is the author of Horses For Dummies. Audrey has been involved with horses since the age of nine. She has owned and cared for horses throughout her life, and has trained in both Western and English disciplines. She is a member of the North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC), and keeps two horses at her home in Norco, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; 1 edition (August 19, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764579134
• ISBN-13: 978-0764579134
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,389,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in New York City, where I lived until the age of two. When I was still a toddler, my family heeded the westward call and moved to Los Angeles, where I spent my youth. I fell in love with animals and science at a young age, and played "mom" to a variety of pets including dogs, cats, rabbits, lizards, mice, hamsters, birds, snakes, guppies and a horse.

After graduating El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, Calif., I worked at various jobs including key shop manager, and cashier at Sears. At the age of 21, I returned to New York City and became a student at New York University in Manhattan. I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Journalism and a minor in Astronomy.

While living in New York, I worked for several years as an editor for a home fashion trade magazine, then moved on to become an editor for the American Kennel Club Gazette. After five years with the AKC, I accepted a position as managing editor on Dog Fancy magazine in Irvine, Calif., and moved back to the Golden State. Shortly after, I became editor of Horse Illustrated magazine. I left the position in 1995 to pursue a full-time career in freelance writing and editing.

I live in Norco, Calif., with my husband, Randy Mastronicola. We share our home with an Appaloosa gelding named Idaho Hawk (Bailey); a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Nigel; four cats named Murray, Holly, Cheddar and Stanley; and two rabbits, Prudence and Karma.

Nigel (Ninacorte Nigel Tuff S Nails, NA, NJ) and I compete in American Kennel Club agility events, and are currently working on our Open title. I am also preparing Bailey for a career in competitive trail riding.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent horsemanship guide, December 17, 2008

By 

Kathy Thistlethwaite (Horsetown, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Trail Riding: A Complete Guide (Howell Equestrian Library) (Kindle Edition)

This book provides not only excellent advice to riders venturing out for their first trail ride but also provides insight into more challenging rides, including horse camping, endurance racing, and trail trials. It is a complete horsemanship manual - including valuable information on horse health, nutrition, training, and conditioning. This would be a very useful addition to any horseman's library.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A comprehensive trail riding book, November 24, 2011

By 

Robert Simmons Jr. "kraythe" (Broomfield, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Trail Riding: A Complete Guide (Howell Equestrian Library) (Kindle Edition)

This book will take you from novice to someone that has the basics of education in trail riding, at least as much education as you can get from a book. I cant count the number of things I learned in the book. Combined with practical experience on the horse, this book is an invaluable resource for all trail riders.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BASIC BEST!, March 20, 2006

By 

Maurice F. METCALFE (Sierras near SAC, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Trail Riding: A Complete Guide (Howell Equestrian Library) (Paperback)

Beginner's best buy for overall horse owning & care. No secret things to "do on the trail or getting there", but a comprehensive introduction. A must for early horse riders (who can read). Great resource section in Appendix.